"The Patternists specialized in cerebral asymmetry. With grossly expanded right-brain hemispheres, they were highly intuitive, given to metaphors, parallels, and sudden cognitive leaps. Their inventive minds and quick, unpredictable genius had given them a competitive edge at first. But with these advantages had come grave weaknesses: autism, fugue states, and paranoia. Patternists grew out of control and became grotesque webs of fantasy." - Bruce Sterling Schismatrix Plus

09 March 2010

Die Antwoord - NSFW

Weird thing is I chickened out writing this two weeks ago when it was cutting edge. But it's stuck with me. Really bad. I'm obligated now. I'm not supposed to like it. A little history: "Ninja" does rap music in Cape Town South Africa for the last ten years, does a number of rebirths and finds his "Zef" or "Zen" self and creates Die Antwoord (The Answer) band that skits along through 2009 until a Feb 3rd 2010 entry on Boing Boing. THEN comes the Puma ads, then comes the contract with Sony, then comes EMI (largest concert promoter in the world) to schedule a European and American tour. They are coming.

Are they a joke via Ali G? Kind of. Are they a parody of 80's electronica, house music, video games? Sort of. Are they pornographic? Yes, and every third word is fuckin'. And, what the fuck are they saying? ...most of the time. Dutch, French, uhh? There is no review of them that has even attempted at interpreting where this dialect comes from. I love the language barrier like I love "Fever Ray," formerly "The Knife." Are they downplaying their skills? Yes. There is more here than meets the marketing. DJ "Hi Tech" has more than a pee cee cumpooter that he makes next level beats on, and who lives with his granny. Sex-Pot "Yo-Landi" is more than the childhood neighbor across the street. Do I care?

What is a real letdown is the change on their website of the "W - Vogue" magazine level color photography that said "white trash South African." Now it's arty? DieAntwoord

The music stands. Signature dis piece "Jou Ma Poes In 'N Fishpaste Jar," the ultimate South African dis unless you're a friend, "your mom's pussy in a fishpaste jar." The songs range from 80's house music, 90's P-Diddy R&B, raw Cape Town rap, Pass the Dutchie, karate film spy clips, video game samples, gansta anthems, Russian drinking dirges, anime school-girl backup singing, hyperbolic beat-box and the epic "Beat Boy" multi-scene porno, LSD trip. Ninja jumps his weiner up and down in his "Dark Side of the Moon" boxers in that video. And, I just want to have sex with her hair (among other things.) It's just so cool.

Poised to look naive, postured as vicious, I can't deny I just like it.

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About Me

A dedicated painter in oils for 23yrs, and a museum collected digital fine artist, he has maintained a parallel interest in digital / web-based platforms in the commercial world. In his own words, "Vision is singular but the applications are multiple."